Reading is just as important in summer months

Over the weekend, children in Marietta had a chance to participate in Story Time at the Armory, presented by the Kiwanis Club. It was a typical summer weekend program –snacks, giveaways, prizes, storytellers and smiling kids.

And while the Kiwanis Club’s program is a fantastic one, and we are grateful community organizations continue to step up to present similar activities, it should serve as a reminder that reading is just as important during the summer as it is during the academic year.

Parents of kids who spent all school year getting their daily dose of reading cannot let the summer slide pull their kids so far backward they are unprepared for a return to school in the fall. Reading must remain a part of their daily lives.

Just ask the Kiwanis members how much joy they get out of making such a connection with the youngsters.

“Reading to the little ones is great,” said Mark Doebrich, a retired educator and Kiwanis member. “Our club … likes to invest in youth and reading helps to get kids interested. This is a good time. It’s fun.”

It is a fun, important time for families — often in the evenings, during the summer — too. The difference it makes in kids’ lives is unmeasurable.

They get enough screen time, folks. (Probably too much). You are not doing them any harm if you cut short their outdoor activities by 15 or 20 minutes at the end of the day to leave room for story time before bed.

It will teach them how important reading is if they understand reading is important to YOU.